Composite pressure tank identification and tracking

ABSTRACT

A device, a system, and methods for tracking conductive composite pressurized gaseous storage tanks. The system including anchoring an RFID device in a non-conductive blind boss, wherein the anchor material has a low dielectric and has minimal reflection of RF energy.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Patent Application is a Continuation of U.S. Utility patentapplication Ser. No. 14/523,128, filed Oct. 24, 2014, now issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,534,738, the disclosure of which is incorporated by referencein its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

This disclosure relates to a blind boss mounting for an insulated RFIDtag connection tank.

2. General Background

There is an ongoing balance between safety and weight with respect topressurized fuel in motor vehicles traditional methods of reducing tankweight have included using plastic lined tanks wrapped in fibers withina binding matrix and having a fluid connection for fill/unfill. FIG. 1shows a traditional composite tank structure. Such composite pressurevessels “T” is constructed by wrapping reinforcing fibers in a bindingmatrix forming a wrapped region “W” over a plastic liner “L”. A polarboss “0” is connected to the liner and is partially in the wrappings.The boss has a fluid connection “V” to the inside pressure chamber“I.V.”. Fiber materials are often formed of carbon fibers or otherconductive materials.

These composite tanks weight less than metal tanks but are moresusceptible to damage from cuts, gashes and the like. Tanks are alsosusceptible to stress related to weather, fill and unfill sequence. Suchtanks should be inspected upon regular intervals. Such tanks are alsoexpensive and susceptible to theft. Finally, such tanks have projectedand actual life cycles depending on use, damage and the like.

DISCLOSURE

Cylindrical pressurized carbon fiber filament wrapped compositecylinders are a lightweight alternative to metal tanks for storinggaseous fuels. Such cylinder can withstand hoop and axial stressesapplied internally of at least a quantity equal to the burst rating.

Disclosed herein are exemplary implementations of aspects of devices,systems and methods of a pressurized-gas storage tanks wherein the tanksmay be wirelessly tracked and identified. An identified tank may be“found” after theft. An identified tank which has previously beendamaged may be identified as having prior damage for purposes ofinspection and safety. An identified tank may be mapped to a location toarrange for inspection or to track assets. Signal communication to orfrom a Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a form of wirelesscommunication that uses radio waves to identify and track objects RFIDtags and like can be interfered with if the RFID tag is adjacent to orin contact with a conductive material or surface.

RFID tags are attached to items to be tracked. These tags includeintegrated circuits (IC), that are connected to an antenna. The tags inon board memory store the product's code or other identifier which canbe read by a reader. An RFID reader is a device which can supply powervia an antenna as well as data and commands to RFID tags. The reader andtag are in signal communications.

RFID systems can be further broken down by the frequency band withinwhich they operate: low frequency, high frequency, and ultra-highfrequency. There are also two broad categories of RFID systems-passiveand active. The LF band covers frequencies from 30 KHz to 300 KHz.Typically LF RFID systems operate at 125 KHz, although there are somethat operate at 134 KHz. This frequency band provides a short read rangeof 10 cm. The HF band ranges from 3 to 30 MHz. Most HF RFID systemsoperate at 13.56 MHz with read ranges between 10 cm and 1 m. HF systemsexperience moderate sensitivity to interference. The UHF frequency bandcovers the range from 300 MHz to 3 GHz. Systems complying with the UHFGen2 standard for RFID use the 860 to 960 MHz band. While there is somevariance in frequency from region to region, UHF Gen2 RFID systems inmost countries operate between 900 and 915 MHz.

The read range of passive UHF systems can be as long as 12 m, and UHFRFID has a faster data transfer rate than LF or HF. UHF RFID is the mostsensitive to interference.

In active RFID systems, tags have their own transmitter and powersource. Usually, the power source is a battery. Active tags broadcasttheir own signal to transmit the information stored on their microchips,and offer a range of up to 100 m.

There are two main types of active tags: transponders and beacons.Transponders are “woken up” when they receive a radio signal from areader, and then power on and respond by transmitting a signal back.Because transponders do not actively radiate radio waves until theyreceive a reader signal, they conserve battery life. Beacons are used inmost real-time locating systems (RTLS), in order to track the preciselocation of an asset continuously. Unlike transponders, beacons are notpowered on by the reader's signal. Instead, they emit signals at pre-setintervals. Depending on the level of locating accuracy required, beaconscan be set to emit signals every few seconds, or once a day. Eachbeacon's signal is received by reader antennas that are positionedaround the perimeter of the area being monitored, and communicates thetag's ID information and position.

In passive RFID systems, the reader and reader antenna send a radiosignal to the tag. The RFID tag then uses the transmitted signal topower on, and reflect energy back to the reader.

Passive tags can be packaged in many different ways, depending on thespecific RFID application requirements. For instance, they may bemounted on a substrate, or sandwiched between an adhesive layer and apaper label to create smart RFID labels. Passive tags may also beembedded in a variety of devices or packages to make the tag resistantto extreme temperatures or harsh chemicals.

An RFID reader, also known as an interrogator, is a device that providesthe connection between the tag data and the system software that needsthe information. The reader communicates with tags that are within itsfield of operation, performing any number of tasks including simplecontinuous inventorying, filtering (searching for tags that meet certaincriteria), writing (or encoding) to selected tags.

It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that some of the circuits,components, and/or devices of the system disclosed in the presentapplication are described as being in signal communication with eachother, where signal communication refers to any type of communicationand/or connection between the circuits, components, and/or devices thatallows a circuit, component, and/or device to pass and/or receivesignals and/or information from another circuit, component, and/ordevice. The communication and/or connection may be along any signal pathbetween the circuits, components, and/or devices that allows signalsand/or information to pass from one circuit, component. The signal pathsmay be non-physical such as free-space (in the case of electromagneticpropagation) or information paths through digital components wherecommunication information is passed from one circuit, component, module,and/or device to another in varying analog and/or digital formatswithout passing through a direct electromagnetic connection. Theseinformation paths may also include analog-to-digital conversions(“ADC”), digital-to-analog (“DAC”) conversions, data transformationssuch as, for example, fast Fourier transforms (“FFTs”),time-to-frequency conversations, frequency-to-time conversions, databasemapping, signal processing steps, coding, modulations, demodulations,etc.

In some exemplary implementations, aspects disclosed are a trackingsystem for conductive material pressurized composite tanks, including acomposite pressurized tank vessel having a plastic, non-carbon, bosswith an open proximal end and a cavity within surrounded by an annularwall with an anchor material affixed therein and, an RFID device affixedwithin the anchor material.

In some exemplary implementations, aspects disclosed are a trackingsystem for conductive material pressurized composite tanks, including acomposite pressurized tank vessel having a plastic, non-carbon, bosswith an open proximal end and a cavity within surrounded by an annularwall with an RFID device within an anchor material affixed therein, anRFID device affixed within the anchor material; data stored in memory ofthe RFID device; an RFID reader in signal communication with the RFIDdevice; and, whereby information stored in the memory of the RFID deviceis read. In some instances the data collected by the RFID reader isprovided to one or more of a network and a server.

In the above implementations the blind boss may have one or more of aroughened internal annular wall, a coating added to the internal annularwall, threading on the annular wall, a prong in its cavity.

In the above implementations the blind boss may have one or more of aninsert able end sleeve affixed to the internal annular wall partiallywithin the cavity, and an insert able plug affixed to the internalannular wall.

In some exemplary implementations, aspects disclosed are an assetmanagement system for conductive pressurized composite tanks includinghaving a composite pressurized tank vessel with a plastic, non-carbon,blind boss with an open proximal end, a cavity, surrounded by aninternal annular wall, an RFID device anchor material affixed within theblind boss; and, an RFID reader in signal communications with the RFIDdevice. In some instance the RFID reader is in signal communicationswith a server via a network and provides the data collected from theRFID device to the server. The collected data may be provided from theserver to a remote computing device.

In some exemplary implementations, aspects disclosed are an assetmanagement system for conductive pressurized composite tanks includinghaving a composite pressurized tank vessel with a plastic, non-carbon,blind boss with an open proximal end, a cavity, surrounded by aninternal annular wall, an RFID device anchor material affixed within theblind boss; and, an RFID reader in signal communications with the RFIDdevice. In some instance the RFID reader is in signal communications atabout 15 meters. In some instance the RFID reader is in signalcommunications at about 10 meters. In some instance the RFID reader isin signal communications at about 5 meters

In some exemplary implementations, aspects disclosed are an assetmanagement system for conductive pressurized composite tanks includinghaving a composite pressurized tank vessel with a plastic, non-carbon,blind boss with an open proximal end, a cavity, surrounded by aninternal annular wall, an RFID device anchor material affixed within theblind boss; and, an RFID reader in signal communications with the RFIDdevice. In some instance the RFID reader is in signal communicationswith a server via a network and provides the data collected from theRFID device to the server. In some instances an input devicescontemporaneously with the RFID reader collect other data related to orarising from the tank, vehicle or location of the tank or vehicleincluding but not limited to one or more of a jpeg, mpeg, geographicallocation, temperature, vehicle ID, date and time, and, said input deviceprovides said other data to the server via the network.

In some exemplary implementations, aspects disclosed are methods oftracking composite conductive pressurized tanks, the method includingaffixing an RFID device in a plastic, non-conductive, blind boss, withan anchor material, on a tank; store data in the memory of the RFIDdevice; read the data stored with an RFID writer/reader; and, providingthe collected data to a server via a network. In some instances themethod includes using the RFID writer/reader to write data on the RFIDdevice.

DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become moreapparent with reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a traditional composite tank;

FIG. 2 a composite tank with a blind boss;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are close up of the blind boss in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5-9 are alternate configurations of blind boss structure; and,

FIG. 10 shows an overview of a computerized tracking system.

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features ofthe present disclosure that are regarded as novel, it is believed thatthe present disclosure's teachings will be better understood from aconsideration of the following description in conjunction with theappendix, figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.All descriptions and callouts in the Figures are hereby incorporated bythis reference as if fully set forth herein.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a traditional composite pressurized gas vessel. Thesetanks are often used for the transport of natural gas or hydrogen fuelon vehicles to reduce weight the tanks are often composite layers andnot metal. A traditional tank “T” comprises an internal volumetric space“I.V.” defined by a plastic liner “L”. The liner has an output neck “0”which fluidly connects the I.V. with the external world via a valve “V”.The liner “L” is wrapped with material and resins “W” which form aboundary to the migration of gaseous fuels.

FIG. 2-4 illustrates aspects of composite pressurized gas tank 100 witha blind boss and tracking 105. The tank 100 is formed by a liner 120surrounded by a wrapping region 130 which comprises a matrix of fabricin a binder such as an adhesive or resin which has been cured. Aninterior volumetric space 133 is defined by the liner. The exterior ofthe tank 135 may be further wrapped in protective material (not shown).The wrapping region, utilizes fiber materials such as carbon fiber,KEVLAR™ fiber, glass fiber, and/or other fiber type materials in amatrix binder to form a strong, burst resistant, lightweight tank.However, carbon fiber is conductive and testing has shown it tointerfere with radio frequency transmission and reception.

The blind boss 150 disclosed herein is formed as part of the non-carbonplastic liner, or it is added to the end of a carbon plastic liner butformed of non-carbon plastic. The blind boss has a closed distal end 155and an open proximal end 160 and internal annular wall 162 and externalannular wall 163, an internal cavity 164. Within the blind boss ananchor material 200 which does not interfere with communications to orfrom a RFID device is added along with the RFID 300 device.

RFID device contains memory which contains data. Data may be coding toidentify the tank, the origin, the date of service. The RFID device maycontain at least one of non-volatile memory, read only memory, writablememory. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that RFIDdevices are writeable. Materials which do not interfere have lowdielectric properties such as plastic (non-carbon) and epoxy, acrylic orsilicon sealants. The anchor material should be surround at least aportion of the RFID device and adhere to the internal annular wall 162of the cavity 164. An RFID reader 1000 wirelessly reads the informationon the RFID tag/device which may include unique identifier numbers,manufacture information and hours of service. RFID readers may also bewriters and using software such as LLRP (Low Level Reader Protocol) aUHF RFID can write to the RFID device. Geo location may also be acquiredalong with other relevant data and meta data such as vehicle tank is onduty on, tank manufacture, temperature, fill history, visual inspectionetc.

An RFID reader 1000 wirelessly reads the information on the RFIDtag/device which may include unique identifier numbers, manufactureinformation and hours of service. Geo location may also be acquiredalong with other relevant data and meta data such as vehicle tank is onduty on, tank manufacture, temperature, fill history, visual inspectionetc.

In some instance the annular wall 162 may be roughened prior to theinsertion of the anchor material to provide a rougher surface for theanchor material to adhere to. In some instances at least a portion ofthe annular wall may be coasted with an additional anchor material 170.The additional material may be an insulator, a shock absorber, anadhesive or the like.

The RFID device, and in particular the antennae, is sensitive tointerference. The greater the radio interference the lower theperformance. Low dielectric materials generally do not reflect RF energyand thus have a lower impact on performance of n RFID device than a highdielectric material. Low dielectric materials include non-carbon plasticHigh dielectric materials tend to reflect more RFID energy and thereforedetune a RFID.

FIG. 5 illustrates a blind boss 150 within a cavity 164 wherein thecavity is threaded 400 on the internal annular wall 162. The threadingprovides an undercut wherein the anchor material maybe caught to betterhold the RFID device 300 within the anchor material. FIG. 6 illustratesaspects of a blind boss with a prong 450 extending from the closed end155 of the blind boss and into the cavity 164. The prong 450 isconstructed of a low or non-conductive material, to avoid interferencewith the RFID device. The prong is preferable formed with the blindboss. Those of ordinary skill in the art with recognize that a singleprong may be replaced with multiple prongs without departing from thescope of this disclosure. The anchor material surrounds at least part ofthe prong 450 thereby further anchoring the material to another point.The surface of the prong may be roughened to urge greater adherence.

FIG. 7 teaches an insertable end sleeve 500 which may be added to ablind boss 150 and affixed to the internal annular wall 162 partiallywithin the cavity 164. The end sleeve 500 effectively reduces thediameter of the open proximal end 160 of the blind boss. Shown here theend sleeve is of a size and shape to mate with the internal annular wallfor the blind boss. The end sleeve is hoop shaped with a predeterminedthickness 502 and forming a hoop annular wall 504. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize that it is within the disclosure thatthe sleeve thickness may be larger and may also extend as a solid endblocking the entire opening to the blind boss.

FIG. 8 illustrates a blind boss 150 with passageways 600 fluidlycommunicating between the cavity and the external annular wall 163.Portions of the anchor material 202 are shown affixed within thepassageways to further anchor the RFID device during mounting.

FIG. 9 illustrates an assembly view of an insertable anchored RFIDdevice. A plug 700 which is at least a hollow shape having an externalwall 702 corresponding to the blind boss's internal annular wall 162, atleast a partial end cap 703, an open end 704, and an internal wall 705forming a cavity 706 wherein the anchor material 200 is surrounding anRFID device 200. In some instances the plug is non-conductive. In otherinstances the anchor material has a low-dielectric. In some instance theanchor with low-dielectric separates the RFID from a plug which may havesome conductiveness. An air and humidity passage 707 may be included.After placing the anchor material and RFID device in the plug 700, anadhesive or cement 750 is placed on at least one of the external wall ofthe plug and the internal annular wall of the cavity 164. The plug isthen slid into the blind body thereby affixing the RFID device therein.

FIG. 10 is an overview of a tracking system wherein a tractor 1002 andtrailer 1004 with gaseous fuel tanks 100 having an RFID device 300within a blind boss 150 being wirelessly interrogated for informationvia a RFID reader 1000. The RFID reader 1000 is in signal communication1005 with the RFID device in the tank 100. The RFID reader is also insignal communication with a network 1100 wherein the informationcollected from the RFID device is provided to a server 1120. Theinformation may be stored in a database 1150. The server 1120 may alsoparse the information and provide at least some of the information tocomputing devices a remote such as smart phones and computers to trackthe tank and vehicle location or provide notification to the vehicleowner or driver regarding the tank. In some instances the server usesdecision and rule engines to parse data for use in tracking at least oneof tracking a tank's location, a vehicle location, temperature when thetank was identified at a location, elevation when the tank wasidentified at a location, date when the tank was a t allocation, damageon the tank at a location and providing a subset of that data to anothercomputing device.

Additionally, other input devices or sensors 1200 which maycontemporaneously with the RFID reader 1000 interrogating the tank,collect other data such as jpeg, mpeg, geographical location,temperature, vehicle ID, visual inspection on the and optionally anyother sensors or input device 1200. In some instances the other inputdevice or sensor may be integrated into the RFID writer/reader. The dataprovided to the server 1120 may be stored in a database 1350. That dataor metadata may be sent to the server 1120 and collected and correlatedto a specific tank or vehicle.

Additionally, other input devices or sensors including cameras and thelike, 1004 may contemporaneously with the RFID reader interrogating thetank, collect other data such as jpeg, mpeg, geographical location,temperature, vehicle ID, visual inspection on the and optionally anyother sensors or input device 1004. That data or metadata may be sent tothe server 1020 and collected and correlated to a specific tank.

While the method and agent have been described in terms of what arepresently considered to be the most practical and preferredimplementations, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not belimited to the disclosed implementations. It is intended to covervarious modifications and similar arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accordedthe broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modificationsand similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and allimplementations of the following claims.

It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be madewithout departing from the essence of the disclosure. Such changes arealso implicitly included in the description. They still fall within thescope of this disclosure. It should be understood that this disclosureis intended to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of thedisclosure both independently and as an overall system and in bothmethod and apparatus modes.

Further, each of the various elements of the disclosure and claims mayalso be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should beunderstood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of animplementation of any apparatus implementation, a method or processimplementation, or even merely a variation of any element of these.

Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates toelements of the disclosure, the words for each element may be expressedby equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the functionor result is the same.

Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should beconsidered to be encompassed in the description of each element oraction. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit theimplicitly broad coverage to which this disclosure is entitled.

It should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means fortaking that action or as an element which causes that action.

Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood toencompass a disclosure of the action which that physical elementfacilitates.

Any patents, publications, or other references mentioned in thisapplication for patent are hereby incorporated by reference. Inaddition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless itsutilization in this application is inconsistent with suchinterpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood asincorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, andsynonyms such as contained in at least one of a standard technicaldictionary recognized by artisans and the Random House Webster'sUnabridged Dictionary, latest edition are hereby incorporated byreference.

Finally, all referenced listed in the Information Disclosure Statementor other information statement filed with the application are herebyappended and hereby incorporated by reference; however, as to each ofthe above, to the extent that such information or statementsincorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with thepatenting of this/these disclosure(s), such statements are expressly notto be considered as made by the applicant(s).

In this regard it should be understood that for practical reasons and soas to avoid adding potentially hundreds of claims, the applicant haspresented claims with initial dependencies only.

Support should be understood to exist to the degree required under newmatter laws—including but not limited to United States Patent Law 35 USC132 or other such laws—to permit the addition of any of the variousdependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim orconcept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim orconcept.

To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extentthat the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literallyencompass any particular implementation, and to the extent otherwiseapplicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any wayintended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicantsimply may not have been able to anticipate all eventualities; oneskilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted aclaim that would have literally encompassed such alternativeimplementations.

Further, the use of the transitional phrase “comprising” is used tomaintain the “open-end” claims herein, according to traditional claiminterpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it shouldbe understood that the term “compromise” or variations such as“comprises” or “comprising”, are intended to imply the inclusion of astated element or step or group of elements or steps but not theexclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps.

Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive forms so as toafford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A tracking system for conductive materialpressurized composite tanks, the system comprising: a conductivepressurized tank vessel (100) comprising; an interior volumetric space(133); a plastic, blind boss (150) with a closed distal end (155) and anopen proximal end (160) wherein the closed distal end is affixed to thetank vessel; a cavity (164) in the blind boss surrounded by an annularwall (162); an anchor material (200) affixed within the cavity of theblind boss; and, an RFID device affixed within the anchor material. 2.The tracking system of claim 1 further comprising: data stored in memoryin the RFID device; an RFID reader in signal communication with the RFIDdevice; and, whereby information stored in the memory of the RFID deviceis read.
 3. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein the blind bossfurther compromises a roughened internal annular wall (162).
 4. Thetracking system of claim 1 wherein the blind boss is threaded on itsinternal annular wall.
 5. The tracking system of claim 1 furthercomprising an insert able end sleeve (500) affixed to the internalannular wall partially within the cavity; and, whereby the sleeveeffectively reduces the diameter of the open proximal end of the blindboss.
 6. The tracking system of claim 2 wherein the RFID reader providesthe information read from the RFID device to a network (1100).
 7. Anasset management system for conductive pressurized tanks, the systemcomprising: a pressurized tank vessel (100) with an interior volumetricspace (133); a plastic, non-carbon, blind boss (150) affixed at itsclosed distal end to the tank vessel having an open proximal end (160)and a cavity (164) surrounded by an internal annular wall (162); ananchor material (200) affixed within the cavity of the blind boss; anRFID device affixed within the anchor material; and, an RFID reader(1000) in signal communications with the RFID device.
 8. The assetmanagement system for conductive pressurized tanks, of claim 7 whereinthe RFID reader is in signal communications with a server (1120) via anetwork (1100) and provides the data collected from the RFID device tothe server.
 9. The asset management system for conductive pressurizedtanks, of claim 8 wherein the RFID reader is in signal communicationswith the RFID device at a distance of up to about 5 meters.
 10. Theasset management system for conductive pressurized tanks, of claim 8wherein the RFID reader is in signal communications with the RFID deviceat a distance of up to about 10 meters.
 11. The asset management systemfor conductive pressurized tanks, of claim 8 wherein the RFID reader isin signal communications with the RFID device at a distance of up toabout 15 meters.
 12. The asset management system for conductivepressurized tanks, of claim 11 wherein the server parses the dataprovided and provides at least some of that data to a remote computingdevice (1300).
 13. The asset management system for conductivepressurized tanks, of claim 10 further comprising: an input devices 1200which contemporaneously with the RFID reader 1000 collect other dataincluding but not limited to one or more of a jpeg, mpeg, geographicallocation, temperature, vehicle ID, date and time; and, said input deviceprovides said other data to the server via the network.
 14. A trackingsystem for conductive material pressurized composite tanks, the systemcomprising: a pressurized tank vessel (100) comprising; a plastic liner(120) surrounded by a conductive wrapping region (130); an interiorvolumetric space (133); a plastic, blind boss (150) with a closed distalend (155) and an open proximal end (160) wherein the closed distal endis affixed to one of the tank vessel and liner; a cavity (164) in theblind boss surrounded by an annular wall (162); an anchor material (200)affixed within the cavity of the blind boss; and, an RFID device affixedwithin the anchor material.
 15. The tracking system of claim 14 furthercomprising: data stored in memory in the RFID device; an RFID reader insignal communication with the RFID device; and, whereby informationstored in the memory of the RFID device is read.
 16. The tracking systemof claim 15, wherein the anchor material has a low-dielectric.